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Connecting Business and Improv

Before Lakshmi Balachandra started teaching Improvisational Leadership at the MIT Sloan School of Management, she was an improv comic. When she went to MIT to study an MBA, it was there that she realized how much she was actually using her improv skills in her new business career.
In an article on CNN.com, Balachandra explains:

“Improv teaches you how to think on your feet and how to react and adapt very quickly to unexpected events and things you may not have planned for. It applies to leadership and it applies to negotiation, where you never have control over what happens. Negotiation is a dynamic process — you have to be able to think on your feet and adapt.”

Improv and Business: Transferable Skills

Learning to take action and chances can be risky but important in a business setting. Knowing that you have a team to back up your decision can give you the confidence you need to go ahead with your plan and not second guess yourself. Sharpening your improvisational skills won’t only help you at work, though – you may find that you can use them in everyday life!

When is the last time you had to think on your feet at work? How did you handle it?

At TeamBonding we love having the chance to help our clients give back and helping their communities. It’s even better when we can help companies focus on their corporate social responsibilities and actually have an impact instead of creating vague initiatives. Part of the fun for us is coming up with new ideas and creating new programs to continue giving back. We have a variety of programs from our Charity Bike Build and Team Teddy Rescue Bear programs, Operation Military Care to provide care packages to our troops, all the way to Paws for a Cause where you make dog beds, pull toys, or cat scratchers for animals in shelters – among so many other charitable program options!

Mention team building and you’ll see a lot of eye rolls. Mention that you’ve planned a team building event and the room will fill with groans. To a lot of people, team building feels like a corporate buzzword synonymous with forced participation, uncomfortable interaction and just a means to an end. Some think of it as purely a waste of time, taking them away from work they could be doing.

We have an exciting year of trade shows lined up! From ice sculpting demonstrations to battling with bows & arrows, our team is ready to bring the fun to these events across the country. Will you be in attendance at any of these shows?! If so, be sure to swing by our booth and say hello!

When it’s summer time, head outside to enjoy the rays and blue skies. DYI (Do it yourself) outdoor team building is a great way to learn new activities while surrounded by fun company and building strong bonds.

Communication affects teamwork in positive and negative ways. The quantity and quality of communication within a team and from leadership affects teamwork.
The more collaboration your projects require the more assertive and intentional your communication should be. Every member of the team needs to take the initiative to communicate. When a team is not actively communicating, their work is at stake. It’s important for everyone to learn how to communicate effectively in order to work effectively.
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